Sled



T. E. DAVIS `uly 14, 1964 SLED Filed Oct. 5, 1962 INVENTOR THOMAS E. DAVIS FIG. 4

United States Patent O 3,140,873 SLED Thomas E. Davis, R0. Box 208, Ypsilanti, Mich. Filed Get. 5, i962, Ser. No. 223,673 2 Claims. (Cl. 280-18) This invention relates 'to recreation and exercise and more particularly to a sled of the type used for sliding on snow.

Vehicles by means of which a person or object may be transported over the snow have been known from early days. The pleasure of enjoying with others of like mind a low-slung sled on which one is transported rapidly and sometimes daringly down a slope on a cold winters day has been experienced during the childhood and sometimes later years of most of those inhabiting portions of country having snowfall during the winter. For the more mature thrill seekers, a vehicle having steerable runners and capable of reaching relatively high speeds over packed snow and ice has been the forte. For others, particularly those of tender years, a pan or like object has been used on slopes which may not be sufficiently hard for the narrow runners of a sled. Then, too, runnered sleds are relatively expensive, heavy and rigid and require the user to draw it to the top of the hill each time and to maintain vigilance lest it be inadvertently loosed down the hill for a riderless trip, with the possibility of accident and the necessity of a chase.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a runnerless sled or carpet type vehicle by means of which there is afforded enjoyment of snowcovered slopes by persons of all ages and with a minimum of expense.

A further object is the provision of a flexible sled or carpet type vehicle which will provide an efficiently functioning snow vehicle usable with a minimum of snow and which may be easily rolled up and carried with a minimum of effort and which will not travel down a slope inadvertently in the event that it is unsecured on the slope.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sled or carpet type vehicle which is inexpensive, easy to store and carry, and which has no rigid parts which might give rise to injury to users.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the manner in which 'the device is used;

FIG. 2, an enlarged perspective;

FIG. 3, a section to an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, a section through the forward end of a modiication; and

FIG. 5, a view illustrating the device coiled for storage or carrying.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a sheet of ilexible, supple material such as polyethylene having da thickness of approximately .030, having longitudinal ribs which provide lateral stability while in use and having a brace across the forward end for stiffening the same and to the sides of which a control rope is connected.

With further reference to the drawings, the sled or carpet type vehicle of the present invention includes a 3,140,878 Patented `iuly 14, 1964 ice main body portion 10, a front brace 11 and a guide rope 12.

The main portion is formed of a sheet of flexible polyethylene or the like of sufficient thickness to avoid rupture in ordinary use but of light weight and flexible so that the device may be rolled into a coil. Material of a thickness of approximately .030 plus or minus about .005" has ben found satisfactory. The material is soft and relatively limp and easily conforms to the contour of the ground over which it is used. The material has a multiplicity of closely spaced ribs and depressions extending longitudinally of 'the sheet and which tend to maintan lateral stability or tracking when the device is used.

In order to stiften the forward edge, a brace is formed and includes a U-shaped width of material which is folded over the forward edge, as indicated in FIG. 3, and attached thereto by sewing.

The rope 12 is passed through the brace by means of grommets 18 at the sides thereof.

The brace may be formed by folding the end within itself, and around a stiifening strip Z0, as indicated in FIG. 4, and stitching therealong.

The device may compactly rolled or folded and stored in a minimum of space. In use it may be carried rolled to the part of the slope on which it is to be used and then unrolled. Then the user may seat himself or stretch out upon the same, grasping the rope as indicated in FIG. l or the sides of the brace in prone position and ride the same down the slope.

Since the device is of light weight, it may be carried under the arm, thereby leaving the hands. free. lf the device be dropped to the ground, its flexibility is such that it will wrinkle if upon a slope and thereby avoid sliding down the hill without any rider. As a result of its flexibility and lightness of weight, it is especially adapted for younger children. The rider, by shifting his weight to one side or the other, may control the direction to a limited degree.

The nature of the material is such that its strength and flexibility are not appreciably affected by temperature commonly experienced. Due to its relatively broad ground coverage, it is adapted to slide on a medium thickness of snow and without substantial packing thereof.

Accordingly, the device is a flexible supple carpet type vehicle adapted to conform to the contour of the individual and of the surface, relatively soft with no rigid portions, of broad coverage and thereby adapted for sliding over a minimum coverage of snow and permitting ease of carrying and handling by the least experienced and with a minimum of risk of injury to the user.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A snow vehicle, comprising a flat, elongated sheet, said sheet being of a flexible, supple material which may be easily rolled and unrolled and adapted to conform to the contour of the surface over which it is moved, said sheet having a multiplicity of longtiudinal ribs on both of its surfaces whereby the tendency to sidewise slippage for the rider and for the Vehicle during riding is reduced, a stiffening brace of eXible, supple material bound across an end of said sheet material, and a rope attached to said stffened portion, said vehicle being formed exclusive of any rigid parts of a nature likely to cause 5 injury.

2. The invention of claim 1, in which said sheet is of polyethylene having a thickness of approximately .030.

l References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,219,905 Prickman Oct. 29, 1940 2,424,694 Jones July 29, 1947 3,034,800 Campbell May 15, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 229,626 Switzerland Jan. 17, 1944 118,916 Sweden May 27, 1947 

1. A SNOW VEHICLE, COMPRISING A FLAT, ELONGATED SHEET, SAID SHEET BEING OF A FLEXIBLE, SUPPLE MATERIAL WHICH MAY BE EASILY ROLLED AND UNROLLED AND ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO THE CONTOUR OF THE SURFACE OVER WHICH IT IS MOVED, SAID SHEET HAVING A MULTIPLICITY OF LONGITUDINAL RIBS ON BOTH OF ITS SURFACES WHEREBY THE TENDENCY TO SIDEWISE SLIPPAGE FOR THE RIDER AND FOR THE VEHICLE DURING RIDING IS REDUCED, A STIFFENING BRACE OF FLEXIBLE, SUPPLE MATERIAL BOUND ACROSS AN END OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL, AND A ROPE ATTACHED TO SAID STIFFENED PORTION, SAID VEHICLE BEING FORMED EXCLUSIVE OF ANY RIGID PARTS OF A NATURE LIKELY TO CAUSE INJURY. 